Qigong, Tai Chi Ch’uan, Baguazhang & more…

Hello! Welcome to this page where I share about my other passion and life work — the practice of internal martial arts.

Training in martial arts has been a major part of my life for over 20 years. Currently, I am Sifu Frank J. Paolillo’s primary assistant at the Tao Institute, where I teach entry level classes, private lessons, run the website & online course program, produce videos, write articles, and more.

The focus of our work at the Tao Institute is on spiritual cultivation, internal martial arts training methods, and Taoist alchemy — this includes qigong & meditation exercises, the study of Taoist principles, philosophy and cosmology, and the practice of several martial art styles including Tai Chi Ch’uan, Baguazhang, Northern Praying Mantis Kung Fu, and Tao Style.

The focus of internal martial arts training and cultivation work is most simply expressed as qigong. Qigong is contained within all form training, exercises, and meditation practices. The term “qigong” can be translated simply as “energy work” or “energy cultivation.” The “gong” also implies the development of skill, such as in the term Gongfu (Kung Fu) — which means to cultivate skill or mastery through effort & time. So for simplicity’s sake, I would like to discuss on this page, the deeper purpose and meaning of practicing qigong.

For me, qigong work is the key ingredient of my spiritual evolutionary process, intuitive development, and general stability in the endeavor of living life. If I were to categorize astrology & qigong work in terms of their position in the spiritual sciences, I would say that qigong is the method for development, and astrology is the map. The map provides essential insight, but the methods are crucial to transcending and going beyond our internal barriers. Qigong is an excellent and efficient method to incorporate for this purpose.

The integration of our higher spirit with our physical body is one of the most important forms of alchemy & transformation that we can engage with in this time.  Qigong and the Internal Martial Arts are among the best practices available to work on this integration — as they were designed with the express intent of developing deeper embodiment for martial and spiritual purposes. The practice of qigong fortifies the energetic field, and opens the energetic pathways in the body for efficient Qi flow, which is excellent for health, and also strengthens the body so that it can house more light and spirit.

Qigong could also be considered a purification practice, as the continuous circulation of the energy through the body and energy field creates an alchemy where coarser energies and consciousnesses in the body & energy field are gradually refined and dissipated. Energy is returned to ourselves, and is grounded and transmuted, and many processes of life become easier to endure, as we continue to circulate and purify our heavy emotions, experiences, and other challenges through daily practice.

In addition to all of this, qigong also teaches us to learn to sense and manage our own energy field. Through regular engagement with energy work and our own energy body, we begin to expand our intuition, and can more readily discern changes within us or our environment. Through this we gain an increased level of autonomy and sovereignty, as we empower ourselves to understand what is going on within us, and address any potential issues while they are still small.

These are our natural technologies, which can be developed and expanded upon at any age.

Proper self cultivation requires sincerity, focus, an open heart, the guidance of good teachers, and daily practice.  With correct attention, we can be deeply empowered to live our life in alignment and with the courage to walk the path as ourselves.  To see people live in wholeness is a gift — and one that I hope all can one day find.

So, for me, that is what the practice of internal martial arts & qigong is for and about.  At Tao Institute we specialize in this work, and for the first time we also have online courses available.  We welcome you to join us for classes — in person at our Asheville school, or online.

Have a wonderful day.